837.61351/4613
Memorandum of Conversation, by Mr. George F. Scherer of the Division of Caribbean and Central American Affairs
At Mr. Bonsal’s92 request the Cuban Ambassador visited the Department on February 7. Mr. Bonsal mentioned that after a week of discussions, the Cuban and United States positions on blackstrap molasses and alcohol differed basically. It appeared to Mr. Bonsal that the Cuban distilling interests had been able to exert sufficient [Page 927] pressure to have the Cuban Commission adopt a proposal whereby an unduly large amount of beverage alcohol would be produced in 1944.
It was pointed out to the Cuban Ambassador that in view of the very pressing and imperative demand for molasses and industrial alcohol in the synthetic rubber and other war programs, the high officials of the United States Government including Judge Byrnes,93 Mr. Stettinius and others feel that it would be reasonable to propose that the Cubans export to the United States the same quantity of alcoholic beverages as in 1943.
Mr. Bonsal added that public opinion in the United States would seriously question an uncontrolled flood of spirits into this country, especially when our domestic distillers are producing only industrial alcohol for the war.
The Cuban Ambassador stated that he understood the situation clearly and he agreed that every effort should be made to obtain the Cuban Government’s agreement to a limitation of 1944 Cuban spirits imports into the United States to the 1943 total. At the conclusion of the conversation Mr. Bonsal accompanied the Cuban Ambassador to the Under Secretary’s office.